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Taylor Lynn Foundation to run McLaren MP4-12C in goldRush Rally as fundraiser

May 14, 2012

1 of 6Known for the antics and outlandish style of its participants, the goldRush Rally will partner with the Taylor Lynn Foundation for a second year to help raise awareness and funds for the charity's endeavors.

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

2 of 6"We've already sold more than 100 heart decals in just two days," said Jeff Klinger, a Taylor Lynn Foundation board member and goldRush Rally participant. "Obviously, our goal is to sell a lot more hearts, but we've enjoyed the recognition we've received so far."

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

3 of 6The Taylor Lynn Foundation McLaren MP4-12C.

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

4 of 6The fourth-annual goldRush Rally will kick off in Los Angeles on June 9 and conclude in Miami on June 16.

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

5 of 6 The Taylor Lynn Foundation was established in 2009 after 14-year-old Taylor Lynn died from a rare type of brain aneurysm. Her father, Michael Cohen, wanted something positive to come from the loss of his daughter. Taylor's goal was “to make the world a better place,” and now, with the help of family and friends, she is reaching her goal.

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

6 of 6The Taylor Lynn Foundation is the official charity of the goldRush Rally.

Photo by itzkirbphotography.com

Organized groups of exotics sports cars often garner a lot of attention, almost always positive, but sometimes negative—see Death Race 2012. What often goes unnoticed is that this attention is sometimes used to support philanthropic efforts.

As the official charity of the 2012 goldRush Rally, the foundation will enter a brand-new McLaren MP4-12C that was donated by an anonymous owner for the event. The car will be covered in a special “active livery” for the rally that crosses the United States from June 9 to 16.

The livery will allow rally participants and spectators to make their mark on the car, with donations to the Taylor Lynn Foundation. For every $100 donation, a heart decal will be placed on the car.

The Taylor Lynn Foundation was established in 2009 after 14-year-old Taylor Lynn died from a rare type of brain aneurysm. Her father, Michael Cohen, wanted something positive to come from the loss of his daughter. Taylor's goal was “to make the world a better place,” and now, with the help of family and friends, she is reaching her goal.

Known for the antics and outlandish style of its participants, the goldRush Rally will partner with the Taylor Lynn Foundation for a second year to help raise awareness and funds for the charity's endeavors.

“We've already sold more than 100 heart decals in just two days,” said Jeff Klinger, a Taylor Lynn Foundation board member and goldRush Rally participant. “Obviously, our goal is to sell a lot more hearts, but we've enjoyed the recognition we've received so far.”

The Taylor Lynn Foundation offers microgrants to kids to help them pursue their passions.

“The idea here is, basically, you can achieve your dreams no matter where you come from,” said Luxury4play founder and goldRush managing partner Ramin Arami. “A lot of our members achieved their dreams in automotive and financial freedom through hard work and business they've done. It's nice to get that across to the children so that they can achieve what they want to do.”

The grants do come with a catch though; the recipient must have a sponsor that signs with them, and they must have a plan to “pay it back.” The foundation is not interested in receiving money back from the kids, but in ensuring that they give back through activities such as helping older people with chores, volunteering at school, helping fellow students at school and learning new skills at local businesses.

The idea for the microgrants came from a round-table discussion with Cohen and two board members. They saw the microloan programs for overseas businesses and wanted to apply a similar program in their charity.

Klinger told the story of a young boy whom the foundation was able to help. He came from a broken home and had watched his mother overdose on drugs. As he bounced through multiple halfway houses and shelters, he maintained his dream of one day playing baseball.

Since he had never been to a game, the foundation provided the funds to take him to a baseball game, buy souvenirs and take in the traditional baseball-game experience. But it wasn't the game that stuck with Klinger. It was that the child asked for additional funds in the form of a microgrant.

Going through the halfway houses, the boy never had a toothbrush, as they were not provided. So he bought a bunch of toothbrushes and went to a shelter to hand them out.

“It was never something I would have conceived in a million years,” said Klinger. “But every once in a while, we get these stories that let us know we are making a difference.”

The foundation will mark its fourth year in 2012 and it continues to grow.

“We have a lot of [influential individuals] that participate in the rally,” said Arami. “And as the official charity for goldRush, we hope that with their exposure from the event we can at least double the [number of] heart decals on the car, if not more.”

The fourth-annual goldRush Rally will kick off in Los Angeles on June 9 and conclude in Miami on June 16.

Among the usual Bugattis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and other exotica, the Taylor Lynn Foundation McLaren MP4-12C will fit quite nicely with its supercar peers--even if it is wearing its hearts on its sleeve.